PHOTO GALLERY (2)

Coleman Xpedition Camping Stove - Product Review - Compact Cookers

Everyone who camps knows the need for a good stove. Having a hot meal or a warm cup of joe can make the difference between a miserable trip and an enjoyable one. There are many camp stoves on the market today, and perhaps the best known name is Coleman. It's been offering top-quality camps stoves to outdoorsmen since 1923. While most people are familiar with Coleman's camping gear and its stove line, the same can't be said for its backpacking line, Peak 1. Peak 1 is to compact gear what Coleman is to fullsize camp gear, a supplier of top-quality and reliable products.

So why are we talking about back- packing gear in a four-wheeling magazine? The truth is that your typical trail rig is small and every space-saving idea you can come up with means added capacity for items that just can't be reduced in size. In addition, compact stoves offer two more advantages. First, with many organized events offering or including meals, your need for a stove may only be for heating water for your favorite steaming beverage. Second, everyone should have a compact stove in his or her survival kit in case a broken part forces you to sleep on the trail overnight.

Perhaps the best compact camp stoves produced yet are the Peak 1 X-series. Coleman's Peak 1 division introduced three X-stoves and the unique Max fuel cartridge system in 1997; all were immediately embraced by the backpacking community. These three stoves are perfect for the four-wheeler, too, because they offer a compact package that is easy to stow, even under the seat. And while they are compact on size, they are big on heat. The typical two-burner propane stove provides between 8,000 and 10,000 BTUs of heat per burner. The X-stoves produce 10,000 to 14,000 BTUs depending on the model.

As we said, there are three models of the X-stove: the Xtream, the Xpert, and the Xpedition. The Xtream stove is a single-burner unit with three pot supports. At 11 ounces, it is the lightest of the X-stoves, but it is the most powerful and produces an amazing 14,000 BTUs. This equates to being able to boil a liter of water in 3 minutes. Burn time on high with a 300-gram fuel cartridge is 60 minutes.

The next in the X-stove line is the Xpert. This single-burner stove features a four-leg design for added pot stability. It weighs in at 14 ounces and produces 12,000 BTUs. This equates to being able to boil a liter of water in 3-1/2 minutes. Burn time on high with a 300-gram fuel cartridge is 70 minutes.

The final offering in the X-stove line is the Xpedition. This is the first dual-burner compact stove on the market. It features a folding system where both burners have four pot legs for added pot stability. The Xpedition weighs 25 ounces and produces 10,000 BTUs per burner for a total of 20,000 BTUs. This equates to being able to boil a liter of water in 3-3/4 minutes per burner. The burner spacing is 9 inches, so you can use the stove with two large (7-1/2-inch plus) pots at the same time. Burn time with both burners on high is 42 minutes using a 300-gram fuel cartridge.

Each model in the X-stove line is powered by the new Coleman Max fuel cartridges. These unique fuel cartridges contain an advanced blend of butane and propane rather than just one of the gases, which has been typical of camp stoves to date. This blend of fuel means superior cold-weather performance in the form of excellent lighting, efficient cooking, and consistent BTU output throughout the life of the cartridge. Max fuel cartridges are self-sealing and can be removed from the stoves for storage much the same way that standard propane cylinders can. In the past, compact stoves usually had to expend their fuel or dump it in order to be broken down. The cartridges attach with a quick quarter-turn twist and come off just as easily. The max fuel cartridges are available in two sizes: 170 gram and 300 gram. Two 300-gram cartridges weigh just 13-1/2 ounces when full. The aluminum cartridges are recyclable after use and can be shipped in factory three packs y U.S. Post to anyplace in the 50 United States.

While we liked all the X-stoves, the Xpedition stove is the best of the three X-stove options for four-wheelers. Its compact storage size of only 4 inches high, 16 inches long and 5 inches wide, means it will store in virtually any location in your 4x4, even the glovebox. Yet when you open it, it offers two burners so that almost any cooking task can be handled. If you really want to have some burner space, two Xpedition stoves in your trail rig will still take up less space than one standard propane camp stove. The Xpedition stove boils water as fast or faster than the standard propane camp stoves, and fuel consumption is comparable to propane stoves too. Like all Coleman products, these stoves are top-quality products that will last through years of rugged use.

Coleman's Peak 1 division offers the X-stoves and many other fine products for those who enjoy the outdoors. For more information on the entire Coleman line, see your local Coleman dealer or call (316) 832-2653; www.coleman.com.